Detroit: Your Pension and Your Life!

Feeley, Dianne
http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/4243

Publisher:  Against the Current
Date Written:  01/09/2014
Year Published:  2014  
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX20797

Amidst the ongoing bankruptcy of Detroit, workers are faced with having their pensions involuntarily reduced.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

The Michigan Constitution guarantees that pensions earned by government workers will not be reduced. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes nonetheless ruled that federal bankruptcy law trumps the state constitution.

Each Detroit city worker with a vested pension was mailed a ballot to accept negotiated cutbacks, or face massive cuts of nearly 30%. Sensing that the outcome had already been decided, the majority of the 32,000 Detroit city workers and pensioners did not bother to cast a vote on "Your pension or your life."